Brits compare 'quaint' UK village to Christmas card - but struggle with its name

07 December 2023 , 08:37

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Postling has been compared to scenes from a Christmas card (Image: Getty Images)

A tiny village in Kent that visitors have described as "quaint and quirky" is home to just 200 people and a classic red telephone box.

Postling has been compared to a scene from a Christmas card thanks to its picture-perfect streets with neatly trimmed hedges and well-maintained houses. While it's a hit with visitors, many people struggle with its name, which is pronounced like 'post' rather than 'lost', as reported by KentLive.

Exploring the area feels like stepping into a scene from a storybook; the village even boasts one of the rare, old cast iron white signs with names of nearby villages on each arm. Then of course the fact that it's surrounded by an area of outstanding natural beauty makes for some gorgeous views and picturesque walks.

Despite its simple spelling, a lot of visitors mispronounce the town's name (Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

If you're after hustle and bustle, this won't be the place for you; there isn't a pub or shop. One visitor mentioned there were "little cottages galore" and she was thrilled to see the red telephone box.

And in warmer seasons, cows and sheep are everywhere. During baling time, you can see huge round straw bales lined up across the fields. There's also a 12th Century church, St Mary and St Radegund, which is stunning in its simplicity, with a Medieval wall painting, set in a quiet churchyard. With its pretty old latched wooden gate, and slope up to its doors, with daffodils and primroses everywhere in the spring, it's a stunning and probably a little changed view.

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Although there is no pub in Postling, there is the The Gatekeeper in Etchinghill, which is around 1.5 miles away, on the Canterbury Road. It's a building dating back to 1595, at the southern end of the Elham Valley and it's dog-friendly, not to mention it does some hearty Sunday roasts.

It's surrounded by gorgeous sprawling countryside

It has four out of a possible five stars from 421 reviews on TripAdvisor, where it is a Travellers' Choice 2023. The latest review, in October, says: "Lovely lunch. Tasty homemade food. Great service and atmosphere. All credit where it's due. Was busy so would advise booking."

"Lovely lunch. Tasty homemade food. Great service and atmosphere. All credit where it's due. Was busy so would advise booking."One visitor wrote a month ago: "Good spot for walkers, we parked at the beginning of the old railwayline in Peene, lovely walk there of about 40 mins, picked blackberries on way back! Food was good, service a bit slow. Outside terrace is nice."

For those after a festive weekend away, you may also want to consider a trip to Surrey, which is home to the beautiful village featured in the film The Holiday.

You may recognise the main street from the scene where Amanda (Cameron Diaz) attempts to drive in the UK for the first time, while the village's pub, The White Horse, was where she joins Graham (Jude Law) and his friends for some drinks.

Meanwhile if you're hoping to enjoy a picturesque walk in the countryside like the characters, you can find gorgeous trails including the footbridge over Tillingbourne Stream which is seen in the film.

Looking for more staycation inspiration? Check out our UK holidays guide which we regularly update with the latest deals, destination ideas and travel tips we think you'll want on your radar. Shere impressed the film's crew with its chocolate box cottages and lush green surroundings, and quiet streets with a handful of boutiques and restaurants.

* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story. You can report any errors to [email protected]

Julie Delahaye